The Columbus Blue Jackets have claimed defenseman Ron Hainsey off waivers from the Montreal Canadiens, President and General Manager Doug MacLean announced today. Hainsey is expected to join the Blue Jackets in Minnesota for Wednesday night's game vs. the Wild. The club also announced it has placed defenseman Adam Foote on Injured Reserve retroactive to Nov. 23. Foote suffered a strained groin vs. Nashville on that date and is day-to-day.

Hainsey, 24, has appeared in 32 career NHL games, tallying 1-1-2 and six penalty minutes with the Canadiens. He collected two penalty minutes and was -1 in a career-high 21 games during the 2002-03 season and added 1-1-2 with four penalty minutes and a +3 plus/minus rating in 11 games in 2003-04. This season, he has registered 3-14-17 and 19 penalty minutes in 22 games with Hamilton. He ranks second on the club in scoring and is tied for third among American Hockey League defensemen in points.

Hainsey joined the Canadiens organization late in the 2000-01 season. In his first full professional campaign in 2001-02, he earned AHL All-Rookie Team honors with Quebec as he registered 7-24-31 and 35 penalty minutes in 63 games. Hainsey has spent parts of the past three years with Hamilton, including 2004-05 when he had 9-14-23 and 51 penalty minutes in 68 games. In 244 career AHL games, he has collected 29-87-116 and 151 penalty minutes.

Montreal's first pick, 13th overall, in the 2000 Entry Draft, Hainsey played two seasons at UMass-Lowell, where he was a NCAA East Second Team All-American and Hockey East First Team All-Star in 2000-01 after leading all league defensemen in scoring with 10-26-36 and 51 penalty minutes in 33 games. In 1999-00, he was a Hockey East All-Rookie Team selection after tallying 3-8-11 and 20 penalty minutes in 30 games.

A native of Bolton, Connecticut, he spent two years in the United States Development Program prior to attending UMass-Lowell. Hainsey also represented Team USA at the 2000 (1-1-2 in seven games) and 2001 (0-5-5 in seven games) World Junior Championships.

The Blue Jackets return to action Wednesday night at the Minnesota Wild. Game time is set for 8 p.m. ET with live coverage on FSN Ohio starting at 7:30 p.m. with the Ice Breaker pregame show. The game will also be broadcast live on the Blue Jackets Radio Network and flagship stations WBNS-AM Sports Radio 1460 the Fan and WWCD-FM, CD101.